Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, Nigeria has witnessed a sharp increase in violence, resulting in the deaths of 13,346 people and the abduction of 9,207 others nationwide.
This escalation in insecurity, affecting 667 Local Government Areas, is linked to terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and various social unrests.
According to The PUNCH, a recent Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, a security risk management firm, offers a detailed analysis of these troubling events.
Between May and December 2023, 5,802 lives were lost, while 2,754 individuals were kidnapped. The violence surged even further in 2024, with 7,544 fatalities and 6,453 kidnappings recorded between January and September.
Security experts are increasingly concerned about the persistence of these challenges, calling on President Tinubu to take stronger action.
“The security crisis is severe,” security analyst Nnamdi Chive said. “Economic hardship has only exacerbated the problem, compounding an already grave situation.”
During a security and peace summit in July, organized by the North-West Governors Forum in Katsina State, President Tinubu described the insecurity, especially in the North-West, as “inherited security compromises.”
He attributed the ongoing banditry and insurgency to longstanding injustices experienced by conflict-affected communities.
Nevertheless, experts argue that more effective measures are required. Chive stressed the importance of better border security, noting, “National security involves protecting your borders effectively. The North-East and North-West borders need to be better controlled to prevent foreign elements from destabilising local communities.”
Reflecting on the government’s efforts, Chive acknowledged some progress, particularly in Borno State, where displaced people are starting to return.
“However, insurgents are adapting by shifting their operations to new areas,” he added.
Another security expert, Colonel Yomi Dare, underscored the role of economic hardship and corruption in worsening the crisis.
“The current situation has been worsened by economic hardship. This has added to an already dire situation,” he explained.
